Nebraska election results: Democrat wins, but plans to drop out

Nebraska’s May 12 Senate primary delivered a surprising result: Democrat Cindy Burbank, a retired pharmacy technician, won the Democratic nomination with 89% of the vote, according to the Associated Press and CNN. However, Burbank has already signaled she will drop out of the general election and endorse Dan Osborn, a populist independent running against incumbent Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts. Ricketts, who faces no serious opposition in his own primary, won 81.8% of the GOP vote, ensuring his path to the November election remains clear. The race takes on added significance because Nebraska has not had a Democratic senator in nearly 15 years. Burbank’s decision to back Osborn—a candidate outside the traditional Democratic mold—could shift the dynamic in a state where Ricketts, a staunch Republican, is seeking re-election. Osborn’s campaign aligns with working-class populist themes, which some analysts argue could appeal to voters disillusioned with both major parties. In Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, known as the state’s ‘blue dot,’ the primary for the open seat left the outcome undecided. Democrat Denise Powell led with 38.9% of the vote, followed closely by John Cavanaugh with 36.8%, while Republican Brinker Harding secured his party’s nomination uncontested. The district’s race is critical because Nebraska is one of two states that split its electoral votes, awarding two to the statewide winner and three to the winner of the 2nd District—a system that could influence the 2024 presidential election. The primary also saw incumbents Mike Flood and Adrian Smith, both Republicans, retain their nominations in the 1st and 3rd Districts, respectively. Their re-election bids will further shape Nebraska’s representation in Congress ahead of the November elections. Analysts note that the state’s electoral rules, which allow for a divided vote, could become a focal point if the 2nd District race tightens in the general election.